Not unusually DeddingtonChurch
began life in the
Norman period – presumably at a similar time to the nearby Castle.

Again, not unusually, nothing survives from any
earlier than
the 13th Century, parts of the chancel and south wall of the
nave
date from 1254. Much of the rest of the church was completed by 1327
and
by-and-large would have looked similar to what stands today. The roof
was
raised in the 15th Century and some chapels were added.

A massive spire had been added to the west tower
but this
fell down in 1634 and landed on the nave causing massive damage.
Rebuilding
work was briefly started but the Civil War then happened and halted
work.
Charles I had the bells and lead melted down for artillery and promised
to
replace them. Even after the Restoration no new bells were forthcoming
and
would not be until 1791.

The spire was never rebuilt but two phases of
renovations
were undertaken, one around 1791 when the new bells were finally hung
and the
second under G.E. Street
from 1858.

The Victorian work is quite restrained for a Home
Counties
church and today it sits overlooking Deddington’s village green
with a
semblance of perpetuity.